Anthony Ahrens

Associate Professor
Department of Psychology

Additional Positions at AU

Director, Psychology MA Program

Anthony Ahrens did his undergraduate work at Northwestern University and received his doctorate in psychology from Stanford University. His research interests fall at the interface of social and clinical psychology. His current interests emphasize gratitude, mindfulness, and fear of emotion.

Degrees

PhD, Psychology, Stanford UniversityBA, Psychology, Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences, Northwestern University

Mullarkey, M., & Ahrens, A. H. Does generalized gratitude prompt the action tendency to celebrate? Presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology convention, New Orleans, LA, January 2013.

Research Interests

Dr. Ahrens’ current research focuses on gratitude, mindfulness, and fear of emotion. He has particular interest in depression and anxiety.

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

Outstanding Reviewer Award, Journal of Happiness Studies, 2009

American University, University Faculty Award for Outstanding Service to the University Community, 2007

AU Expert

Area of Expertise: Gratitude, depression, fear of emotion, mindfulness
Additional Information: Anthony Ahrens focuses on gratitude, mindfulness, and fear of emotion. His work on gratitude focuses on two topics. Most research defines gratitude as a reaction to benefits received from others. Ahrens believes that, in addition, some individuals report gratitude for benefits for which there is no clear origin: Some report being grateful for being at the beach on a sunny day, though they might not report being grateful toanyone. He has data using a trait measure of this sort of gratitude, e.g., in response to specific subsequent daily events. Ahrens is interested in the relation of gratitude to the sense of being interconnected.